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Our Race Recap w/ Tommy Kendall and Mateo Siderman

Our Race Recap w/ Tommy Kendall and Mateo Siderman

The Smoking Tire May 07, 2026 100 min
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About this episode

Tommy Kendall and Mateo Siderman join the hosts for a long race recap that starts at Road America in WRL and keeps circling back to the realities of endurance racing: limp mode, wastegate problems, pit stops, tire strategy, and how track layout changes affect driving. Along the way they dig into old Trans Am and IMSA machinery, compare BMWs, Corvettes, and Z-cars, and swap stories about braking feel, seat fit, and wet-weather lines. The episode closes with sponsor reads and a charity car show plug.

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Technical Too Afraid to Ask
Term

limp mode

"I'm like, oh, limp mode. You know, the lap would go from 238 to like four minutes."

Limp mode is what a car does when it senses a problem. It intentionally reduces power so you can limp back to safety instead of risking more damage.

Car

Nissan 300ZX non-turbo

"These, the cars back then it was a 300ZX non-turbo and there was about a lap and a half of hard braking."

The Nissan 300ZX is a well-known sports car from the Z lineup. Here they’re talking about the non-turbo version, meaning it makes power without a turbocharger’s boost.

Term

chicane

"They don't, because they run that chicane, but Laguna Sec is different, the Glen's different."

A chicane is a twisty section made of quick left-right (or right-left) turns. It’s used to slow cars down and make that part of the track safer.

Concept

reset the leaderboard

"So you have to reset the leaderboard when they change the configuration. That's right."

If the track layout changes, old lap times don’t mean the same thing anymore. So they reset the leaderboard so new records are based on the current course.

Concept

fastest lap

"And remind me, because you told us at dinner and I was shocked, what was your fastest lap there ever? At Lime Rock, it was the, the fastest lap at Lime Rock"

A fastest lap is the quickest one full lap a driver completes. It’s a simple way to compare speed, but conditions and track layout can change the result.

Car

Chevrolet Beretta

"Was your first big win in 1990, [494.9s] you won with a Chevy Beretta? [496.5s] That was my first Trans Am win."

The Chevy Beretta is a regular street car model. In Trans Am racing, teams could race cars that looked like a Beretta but were heavily modified for competition.

Concept

Trans Am

"[496.5s] That was my first Trans Am win. [498.4s] Wow, the Beretta, Beretta."

Trans Am is a famous American racing series. It has rules that let race teams build cars that look like certain models, but they’re designed to race.

Term

splayed valve cylinder head

"We ran a V6, the Elkhart Lake race was an interesting one [513.0s] because we had a splayed valve cylinder head V6, [516.4s] four and a half liter."

This is an engine head design where the valves are set at an angle. Changing valve angles can help the engine move air and fuel more effectively, which matters for speed.

Term

adding weight

"because we had a splayed valve cylinder head V6, [516.4s] four and a half liter. [521.1s] But as we, they started adding weight to us [522.9s] before we even won a race."

In racing, officials sometimes make a fast team carry extra weight to slow it down. Here, they’re saying the car was given extra weight even before it had proven itself with a win.

Term

carburetor

"And for a third car, he was running the 18 degree with a carburetor. And he wasn't familiar with the heavy cars."

A carburetor is how an older-style engine mixes fuel with air. Getting that mix right helps the engine run smoothly and respond well.

Concept

wooden weight in braking

"And it showed up. That was wooden weight in braking. Really, the light went on for me."

He means the car felt heavy and slow to stop. When a car is lighter, it usually brakes more sharply and feels easier to control.

Term

brake marker

"it just wasn't even funny. I'd just look at the guy next to me and say, I don't even need to check the brake marker."

A brake marker is a spot on the track where you start slowing down for a turn. If you don’t have to “check” it, it usually means the car is braking more predictably.

Term

mothballs

"I've never driven it while I've owned it. [595.8s] So it's in mothballs and needs to get going again. [599.3s] It would need anything."

“Mothballs” just means the car has been sitting unused in storage for a while. When you bring it back, you typically have to check it carefully before driving.

Term

BBS

"So yeah, those BBS. [629.1s] Just for comparison, can we have a photo of a 1990"

BBS is a company that makes performance wheels. In this context, the speaker is saying the car has BBS wheels, which are a common upgrade for track and enthusiast builds.

Term

NASCAR

"This thing is like a NASCAR in the front and a dragster in the back. Wild looking."

NASCAR is a famous American racing series. In this conversation it’s just a comparison for how the car looks, not a claim about NASCAR parts.

Term

dragster

"This thing is like a NASCAR in the front and a dragster in the back. Wild looking."

A dragster is a race car built for drag racing—going fast in a straight line. Here it’s used to describe the rear shape and attitude of the car.

Term

livery

"And the exact same, virtually the exact same livery as the Williams of the year. ICI was a sponsor on the Williams back then"

Livery is the car’s “look”—its paint colors and sponsor stickers/graphics. The hosts are saying the race car had a very similar design to another famous car’s scheme.

Term

IMSA GTU

"I gotta say the wheels look dope. We debuted it in IMSA GTU."

IMSA is a major North American racing organization. “GTU” is the category/class that tells you what kind of race car it is and what rules it has to follow.

Company

Cars and Concepts

"Team was owned by Cars and Concepts, [690.2s] which was the company that was like a Roush or a ASC"

They’re talking about a company that worked on cars for a specific program. The host compares it to other shops that do special upgrades and styling packages.

Company

Roush

"which was the company that was like a Roush or a ASC [694.3s] that did the retro fitting or the after fitting"

Roush is a well-known car shop/brand that does performance and upgrade packages. The speaker uses it as a reference to explain what kind of company Cars and Concepts is.

Concept

after package

"of the package, the graphics, body kit, wheels, [700.4s] I didn't realize that was like a full-on after package. [704.1s] That's funny."

They’re saying the car got a complete set of add-ons after it was originally made. Think of it like a coordinated makeover with styling and parts, not just one random upgrade.

Car

Honda Civic Si

"I can kind of see the like $45,000 Civic SI [736.8s] for the perfect one, but I don't know about the Beretta."

They mention the Honda Civic Si as a trim people often want. The idea is that the “right” version can be worth more money when you find the perfect one.

Topic

race recap

"[741.5s] But it's okay, let's go back to the actual race at hand. [746.3s] We had success with the first place trophy [749.1s] the last time we got in this car,"

They switch back to talking about the race itself and how they did. It’s basically a recap of the on-track outcome.

Term

pace to P2

"First race, we were on a pace to P2, car breaks P4."

P2 just means second place. “Pace to P2” means they were driving well enough that they expected to be in second.

Term

green flag

"and Teo did what Mateo does when the green flag drops, he went forward and passed the quicker cars"

The green flag is the signal that the race is officially on and everyone can drive flat-out. When it “drops,” that’s when the real competition starts.

Term

cleared the codes

"I had to pit for 10 minutes, and they cleared the codes and all that stuff. That's how we got to third"

Modern cars store error messages when something goes wrong. “Clearing the codes” means wiping those messages so the car can try again after the issue is handled.

Car

Chevrolet Corvette C8

"The car that ultimately passed us for the podium [807.6s] was that C8 Corvette, [809.1s] which I forget if we talked about on the show."

The Chevrolet Corvette C8 is a Corvette where the engine is placed closer to the middle of the car. That makes it handle differently than older Corvettes and makes it popular for track builds.

Brand

TC Klein Corvette

"The TC Klein Corvette. [813.0s] Did we talk about it here? [815.6s] I don't think so."

“TC Klein Corvette” is the name people use for a particular Corvette build. The point here is that it’s a specific C8 track car, not just any Corvette.

Term

GM

"Like some of these guys, [819.0s] they're all sort of related to GM somehow, [822.5s] bought a shitty C8, like a beater,"

GM is General Motors, the parent company behind multiple brands, including Chevrolet. The hosts are pointing out that many of the people/builds they’re seeing are connected to GM through the Corvette platform.

Term

track car

"[822.5s] bought a shitty C8, like a beater, [826.9s] as shitty as any C8 would be, [829.8s] and turned it into a track car."

A “track car” is a car prepared mainly for racing on a track. It’s typically set up to handle lots of hard driving repeatedly, not just normal commuting.

Topic

Coda

"And we talked about it because we saw the car at Coda, [834.2s] where it had a round Cadillac steering wheel on it. [837.0s] And I was very excited, because at like A,"

Coda is a race track where they saw the car. Tracks can affect how cars are built and tuned for driving hard.

Brand

Cadillac

"And we talked about it because we saw the car at Coda, [834.2s] where it had a round Cadillac steering wheel on it. [837.0s] And I was very excited, because at like A,"

Cadillac is a GM brand. They’re saying the car has a steering wheel that looks like it came from a Cadillac, which is unusual for racing.

Term

round steering wheel

"where it had a round Cadillac steering wheel on it. [837.0s] And I was very excited, because at like A, [839.3s] I knew that would work, and it was better."

A round steering wheel is the normal circular kind you’d see in most cars. The hosts are debating why a round one might still work well even when racers sometimes use square-ish wheels.

Term

square wheel

"[844.8s] Which is hilarious, because you'd think that even in racing, [847.4s] where it's really just here to here, [848.9s] that the square wheel technically might be better,"

A “square wheel” is a steering wheel shape with flatter edges instead of being fully round. Some racers like that style, but the hosts say the round wheel is still working fine.

Term

limited on power

"[854.0s] But this thing is really limited on power,"

“Limited on power” means the car doesn’t have as much engine strength as you’d want. On a track, that can make the car rely more on handling and grip than on raw speed.

Term

GP1

"because of the balance of power rules for GP1. I was shocked when it was in our cars."

GP1 is a race category with rules that control things like how much power the cars are allowed to use. Those rules can force cars to behave differently than they normally would.

Concept

throttle limiter

"I guess they're running a two thirds throttle limiter. So even if they floor it, it only ever gives two thirds throttle."

A throttle limiter is a computer limit that prevents the car from using 100% throttle. So even if you press the pedal all the way, the engine only gets a smaller, fixed amount.

Term

red line

"So it can go to red line, it's just like... It takes a long time."

The red line is the top safe engine speed (RPM). You can rev near it, but if the throttle is limited, the engine may not get there as quickly.

Term

kink

"Oh my goodness, that's why it was so fast through the kink, because it already had the speed going through, and it just went back to that three quarter throttle."

A kink is a tricky, quick bend on a race track. It’s the kind of corner where carrying speed through matters a lot.

Term

BOP

"It's hard to BOP that, because it will show the performance, but it's just, it's probably gonna fall off less, and so forth and so on."

BOP is how racing organizers try to make different cars compete more evenly. They adjust things on purpose so one car isn’t automatically faster just because of its design.

Term

LT1 motor

"Imagine limiting a fucking LT1 motor to two-thirds throttle. You do 24 hours just with a foot on the foreboard like that."

“LT1” is a name for a Chevrolet V8 engine. When people talk about limiting an LT1 in racing, they mean restricting that engine’s power to fit the rules.

Concept

two-thirds throttle

"Imagine limiting a fucking LT1 motor to two-thirds throttle. You do 24 hours just with a foot on the foreboard like that."

It means the engine is being restricted so the driver can’t access full power. In a race, that can affect speed and how the car feels for hours.

Term

ELSD

"And it's got the traction systems, and it's got an ELSD. Like, it's got all this really good technology that helps all those tiny things a little bit."

An ELSD is a differential that can “help” the car put power down when traction changes. It’s like a smarter limited-slip setup that can react to what the tires are doing.

Term

breaking

"Like, it for sure can be breaking near that three marker at turn five, and it can for sure be breaking very minimally for turn one, but they didn't have the, it seemed like they didn't have the drivers in it that wanted to push the car."

They’re talking about braking—how late and how strongly the driver slows down before turning. It’s a key part of going fast through corners.

Concept

backed off of the corner

"And at the start, when I was kind of close to them, going into turn three, they completely backed off of the corner. They really didn't wanna scratch the car."

They mean the driver eased up instead of going for the aggressive racing line. It sounds like they were being careful to avoid scratching or damaging the car.

Term

tire wall

"I mean, you drag it down a tire wall. You literally, it seemed you could not kill one."

A tire wall is a safety barrier at a race track made of stacked tires. It’s meant to slow and cushion a car during a crash.

Term

fiberglass disintegrates on contact

"Maybe I need to learn more about how fiberglass disintegrates on contact. I thought it would like sort of shred."

Fiberglass is a strong but brittle material used in some car body parts. The speaker is asking how it behaves in a crash—whether it breaks into pieces right away.

Term

wastegate

"The wastegate coin on the turbo was worn out. The linkage from the wastegate actuator to the actual coin flapper had play in it."

A wastegate is a valve that helps control turbo boost. It keeps the turbo from making too much pressure, which protects the engine.

Term

boost

"So the wastegate actuator thought it was fully closed but could get blown open by the boost. That's why it would only make three PSI and go into limp mode."

Boost is the extra pressure the turbo adds to push more air into the engine. More boost can mean more power, but it has to be controlled.

Term

PSI

"That's why it would only make three PSI and go into limp mode. The turbo looked relatively new."

PSI is a way to measure pressure. In turbo talk, it usually means how much extra pressure the turbo is making.

Brand

BMW motorsport turbo

"It has a proper BMW motorsport turbo on it now. So I said, was that... That wasn't something that they were gonna actually fix during the race, right?"

A “BMW motorsport turbo” is a turbo meant for racing. Racing parts are usually designed to handle harder driving and keep boost under control.

Concept

fueling stops

"[1521.2s] when you'd pull... [1521.9s] Every time we would change driver or fuel, [1524.2s] you'd have to turn the car off to fuel it. [1527.6s] That's a rule."

During a race, cars sometimes have to stop to add fuel. For safety, the car may need to be turned off while refueling, then restarted before you can drive hard again.

Term

traction control

"and you have to do the same traction control bullshit dance [1535.4s] you do in a road car. [1536.5s] You have to do in this car, [1537.8s] except you're wearing gloves,"

Traction control helps keep the tires from spinning when you accelerate. If it turns back on at the wrong time, it can slow you down because it limits how hard you can apply power.

Concept

pit outs

"So like, that was a little... [1563.9s] That's part of why my pit outs were so slow. [1566.6s] What are you about to say?"

A pit out is when the car comes out of the pits and gets back onto the race track. It’s a tricky moment because you have to get up to speed fast while also following track rules and dealing with systems that may limit acceleration.

Concept

pit in, out

"In lemons, we do pit in, out, [1581.6s] we do driver change and still like you get in"

In many races, teams pull the car into the pit lane for service. Then they drive back out and continue the race, which can change who’s leading based on timing.

Concept

driver change

"In lemons, we do pit in, out, [1581.6s] we do driver change and still like you get in"

In longer races, teams often switch drivers partway through. The goal is to keep the driving sharp and safe when one person gets tired.

Term

fuel reset button

"But then in this car, [1589.1s] when you get in you gotta hit the fuel reset button [1591.5s] to reset the fuel counter,"

A “fuel reset button” is a cockpit control used to reset the car’s fuel-related counter or display (like a trip/consumption counter) so the team can track usage accurately. If it doesn’t work, the driver can’t reliably confirm fuel data during the stint.

Term

fuel counter

"when you get in you gotta hit the fuel reset button [1591.5s] to reset the fuel counter, [1592.9s] which I did and it didn't work."

A fuel counter is the car’s way of tracking fuel used. In a race, that helps the team decide when to pit so you don’t run out.

Term

crew chiefs

"and Zach, our crew chiefs on the radio, [1599.7s] he's like, hey man, hit the button."

The crew chief is basically the team’s lead strategist. They talk to the driver on the radio and tell them what to do during the race.

Concept

keep track of time

"finally he goes, okay, that's fine, [1605.7s] just go out, we'll keep track of time. [1608.2s] So I'm worried about that."

In racing, the team constantly watches the clock and lap timing. If one display isn’t working, time helps them still manage the race plan.

Concept

pit lane procedure

"We were supposed to do a bunch of driver change practice. We were supposed to do kind of the pit lane procedure"

In racing, the pit lane procedure is the planned checklist for how you enter the pits, what you do during the stop, and when you’re allowed to leave. It’s about doing everything in the right order and at the right time to avoid penalties and wasted seconds.

Car

Challenger Hellcat

"that it would benefit more. And I had a Hellcat Durango, which by the way, shout out to the homie..."

The Challenger is a muscle car from Dodge. Muscle cars are built to be very powerful, especially for quick acceleration. The podcast brings it up in the context of high-performance Dodge vehicles.

Car

Hellcat Durango

"And I had a Hellcat Durango, which by the way, shout out to the homie that used to work on the SRT experience who told me they fill those with DOT three brake fluid, by the way. So if the brakes boiled after two stops, like that's definitely why."

The Hellcat Durango is a powerful Dodge Durango with a big supercharged engine. Here they’re talking about brakes overheating during repeated stops, and how the brake fluid might be part of why it happened.

Term

DOT three brake fluid

"shout out to the homie that used to work on the SRT experience who told me they fill those with DOT three brake fluid, by the way. So if the brakes boiled after two stops, like that's definitely why."

DOT 3 is a type of brake fluid. Under repeated hard braking, it can overheat and boil, which makes the brakes feel weak or sketchy because the fluid can’t transfer force as well.

Term

brakes boiled

"So if the brakes boiled after two stops, like that's definitely why. I was like, yup, yup."

“Brakes boiled” means the brake fluid got so hot it started boiling. That can make the brakes feel less responsive or unsafe during repeated stops.

Term

sketchy brakes

"There were some sketchy brakes. So yeah, I mean, the problem didn't happen to me."

“Sketchy brakes” means the brakes didn’t feel trustworthy—like they might not stop the car as expected or felt inconsistent. That’s especially risky in a race because you need predictable braking every lap.

Topic

pit-lane pacing vs racing pace

"I got the, don't fucking slow down until you're like at the gate for the pit. Like you're still racing even in the,"

They’re talking about when you should slow down as you approach the pits. They compare how it works in real racing versus practice events.

Concept

pit entry speed rules

"I got the, don't fucking slow down until you're like at the gate for the pit. Like you're still racing even in the,"

Races often require you to slow down for the pit lane, but the rules usually say exactly when you’re allowed to start slowing. In this story, the driver says the correct timing was later than what people do on track days.

Term

track day

"Cause like on a regular like track day or at fucking, [1765.8s] [1767.8s] you know, a slower series, [1767.8s] they would slow you down much, much further."

A track day is when regular drivers go to a race track to practice. The rules are usually less strict than in an actual race, so you may be told to slow down earlier.

Term

speedo

"And I was like, oh, I'll have plenty of time to stop. And then I just watched the speedo going down"

The speedo is just the speed gauge on the dashboard. Here it’s used to confirm whether the car is slowing down enough at the right time.

Concept

break point

"The uphill doesn't compress as much as I thought. That's a breaking point you have to work out."

A “break point” is the exact spot where you have to start braking so you reach the right speed by a certain place. If you wait too long, you won’t slow down enough.

Term

in-lapse

"The in-lapse and the out-lapse are often, and so someone either has a better one worked out,"

An in-lap is the lap where the driver is getting the car ready for fast driving—especially getting the tires working. It’s basically the “warm-up” lap before the car is at its best.

Term

out-lapse

"The in-lapse and the out-lapse are often, and so someone either has a better one worked out,"

An out-lap is the lap right after you’ve changed tires or restarted. The driver is trying to get back to good grip quickly so the car can go fast.

Term

cold tires

"and in any car, it's leaving on new cold tires, IMSA as well."

Cold tires are tires that aren’t warmed up yet. They don’t grip as well, so the car can feel slippery until the tires heat up.

Term

tire blanket

"Formula One has the tire blanket, so they're leaving on hot stuff."

A tire blanket is a heater that warms the race tires before you drive. It helps the tires grip sooner instead of needing a few laps to heat up.

Term

hot stuff

"Formula One has the tire blanket, so they're leaving on hot stuff."

“Hot stuff” means the tires are already very warm when you go back out. Warm tires can grip well right away, but too much heat can make them less predictable.

Term

MPH Industries Speed Gun Pro KA band

"Well, it's the MPH Industries Speed Gun Pro KA band, [1943.8s] handheld stationary radar gun."

“KA band” is the radio frequency that the speed gun uses. This MPH Industries device uses radar waves to estimate how fast a car is moving.

Term

radar detector

"He wants to know if we can put a radar detector in the race car."

A radar detector is a device that tries to “hear” radar from speed enforcement. It alerts the driver so they can slow down before getting caught.

Term

jammer

"And a jammer that will send a signal of 35 or 35 by 9. [1967.2s] Putting jammers in the race car is the pro's move, right?"

A jammer is meant to mess with the radar so it can’t get a clear speed reading. Instead of warning you, it tries to block or confuse the radar.

Concept

radar speed enforcement on track

"Yeah, they're not looking for that on track. [1976.0s] What the fuck is this? [1978.4s] Is there a rule it says in the book, no jammers."

They’re talking about whether speed-enforcement tech (like radar) even matters during a race, and whether devices that interfere with it are allowed. In racing, the rules can be stricter than what’s technically possible.

Brand

Contis

"Yeah, those Contis are solid. What are the Contis? Everyone runs them, right?"

“Contis” means Continental tires. In racing, the tires wear out and lose grip, so teams have to plan when to change them.

Concept

pit stop

"They're using every pit stop, they use tire. And those classes, they're doing tire changes every pit stop."

A pit stop is when the car pulls into the pits during the race for service. Often that means changing tires, and doing it more often costs more and changes the strategy.

Car

Mustangs

"The Mustangs that were not really in the front. Every other stop, maybe."

“Mustangs” means Ford Mustang race cars. They’re saying those cars weren’t changing tires as often as the front runners.

Concept

endurance racing

"So I mean, that's endurance racing, right? [2364.6s] Like, things go wrong randomly, [2365.8s] and this was our one off weekend,"

Endurance racing is about going for a long time, not just one quick sprint. Since it’s so long, the car has to stay reliable, and things can go wrong even when everyone does their best.

Concept

practice race

"and I really hoped that we were gonna get [2380.2s] that first race podium, but the idea was, [2382.3s] the first race is our practice race. [2383.6s] We didn't even get enough practice for everybody, so..."

In some racing formats, a “practice race” is an on-track session that’s run like a race to simulate race conditions while still serving as preparation. It’s often used to shake down the car, learn traffic and pace, and set up for the actual competition.

Concept

rain driving

"then it rained, da-da-da-da. [2398.2s] So everyone's like, all right. [2398.8s] You'd be great in the rain, by the way. [2400.0s] Just didn't crash in the rain."

When it rains, the tires grip the road less. That means you usually have to be gentler with steering, braking, and throttle so you don’t slide.

Term

counter-steering

"I'm just like, whoa, whoa, it was counter-steering. [2406.9s] How fun is that thing?"

Counter-steering means you steer the wheel the opposite way of the slide. It helps the car stop spinning out and get back under control.

Term

rain line

"It's a motor America rain line, though. [2409.2s] It's legit, right? [2410.7s] Thank God we had talked about that on a whim."

A “rain line” is the best track path to drive on when it’s wet. It’s usually where the tires can grip the most and where water isn’t pooling.

Term

pace laps

"I do it on pace laps, is I try to plot the grip [2435.9s] with the brake pedal on the pace laps."

Pace laps are slower laps where you’re not racing yet. You use them to learn how the car and tires are behaving so you can drive faster safely.

Term

grip

"I do it on pace laps, is I try to plot the grip [2435.9s] with the brake pedal on the pace laps. [2438.1s] And so you search around and you see how quickly it locks."

Grip is how well the tires can stick to the road. More grip means better braking and cornering; less grip means the car slides or locks up sooner.

Term

locks

"And so you search around and you see how quickly it locks. [2441.4s] And like it wrote America, it's dramatic"

“Locks” means the wheels stop turning while you’re braking and start sliding. On wet roads, that can happen much more easily, so it tells you how slippery the surface is.

Term

offline braking

"but you start seeing, okay, wow, [2450.6s] offline braking quite good, online really bad, [2453.6s] and then some of these other things,"

Offline braking means braking when you’re not on the “best” path of the track. On a wet track, that can be much less grippy, so braking can feel worse depending on where you are.

Term

dead pedal

"when I drove that GTP car, how much I was moving around, how much I was energy I was using to brace myself with a dead pedal and with my hand."

A dead pedal is a stationary footrest for your left foot. It helps you brace yourself so you don’t slide around when the car is turning or braking hard.

Concept

driver seating consistency

"And it also makes you more consistent because you're not moving around in the seat."

This is about staying in the same position while driving. If the seat holds you well, you slide less and can steer and brake more the same way every time.

Term

seat bolstering

"If it's a sports car, a super car, and the seat bolstering's not there. Now I'm holding myself with my arms or my leg."

Seat bolstering is the extra side support on a performance seat. It helps keep you from sliding around when you’re cornering hard, so you can drive more consistently.

Car

Ford Ranchero

"The first time I drove this Ranchero and Lemons, the seat, we have a wide variety of people on the team, and it was like an unpadded, quirky seat, it was very open."

The Ford Ranchero is a classic American car with a pickup-bed style. Here it’s being used to show how the seat shape affects how you have to hold yourself while driving hard.

Car

911 Porsche Gt3

"So, get there like eight in the morning... They rented out a two race cars, one was a semi-race ready Porsche GT3 RS. It had kind of everything you need except it was on the street tire and there was a license plate in the back."

The Porsche GT3 RS is a special Porsche made for track driving. Here, they say it looked and behaved like a race car, but it still had street tires and a normal license plate, so it wasn’t fully set up like a dedicated race car.

Concept

semi-race ready

"They rented out a two race cars, one was a semi-race ready Porsche GT3 RS. It had kind of everything you need except it was on the street tire..."

“Semi-race ready” means the car is prepared for track use but not fully converted into a dedicated race car. Common examples include keeping street-legal items (like a license plate) and using street tires, while still adding track-oriented setup elements.

Term

street tire

"It had kind of everything you need except it was on the street tire and there was a license plate in the back."

A street tire is made for everyday driving. It usually doesn’t grip as hard or handle track heat as well as tires designed specifically for racing.

Term

left pedal

"two laps, show them what's right and left, [3010.9s] show them how to use the left pedal. [3012.7s] And-"

On a race car, the left pedal is usually the brake. They’re talking about how to brake correctly.

Term

pedal box

"We switched seats and I get into the seat [3025.8s] and I'm like, man, this is not fitting right. [3027.7s] Like the pedal, sorry, the pedal box is too far away,"

The pedal box is where the pedals are mounted in the car. If it’s too far away, your legs can’t reach the pedals comfortably.

Term

five point harness

"The seat belt, the actual clipping belt [3034.3s] was pressed right on my family jewels [3037.0s] and it was a six point harness. [3039.7s] So it was on both sides on the lap. [3042.9s] And then, no, it was five point harness, I guess. [3045.9s] Yeah, five point harness."

A five-point harness is a multi-strap safety belt used in racing. It holds you in place with straps over your shoulders, around your hips, and between your legs.

Term

six point harness

"The seat belt, the actual clipping belt [3034.3s] was pressed right on my family jewels [3037.0s] and it was a six point harness. [3039.7s] So it was on both sides on the lap."

A six-point harness is a racing safety belt with more straps than a normal seatbelt. It helps keep you firmly held in the seat during fast driving.

Term

aero

"No, with more aero, they were still pulling. That car was pulling on the straightaway."

“Aero” means the car’s aerodynamic parts, like wings and body shapes that affect airflow. The right aero can help the car grip the road better and go faster.

Term

straightaway

"But then I saw them straight away. That car was pulling on the straightaway."

A straightaway is the straight part of the race track. It’s where cars can build speed, so it’s a good place to judge how fast the car really is.

Term

cats

"They told me that they took the cats off it. But then they have this like center exit exhaust thing."

“Cats” means the catalytic converters. They clean up exhaust gases, and removing them usually makes the car louder and changes the exhaust note.

Term

center exit exhaust

"They told me that they took the cats off it. But then they have this like center exit exhaust thing."

A center-exit exhaust routes exhaust gases out through the middle of the car rather than the sides. This layout is often used for styling and packaging, and it can also change how the exhaust sound projects around the cabin and track.

Term

timing

"Well, I think they also said they were limiting the timing. So I wonder if that would send a bunch of fuel to the cat"

“Timing” is about when the engine does things like spark or fuel injection. If that timing is changed, the engine can burn fuel differently, which can affect the exhaust and emissions equipment.

Term

foul it up

"So I wonder if that would send a bunch of fuel to the cat and eventually foul it up or something."

“Foul it up” here means the catalytic converter gets contaminated—often by unburned fuel or oil—so it can’t do its job effectively. That can show up as reduced emissions performance and, in some cases, overheating or permanent damage.

Car

BMW 335

"I think there was a BMW 335. No, I talked to that guy. He had the D badge."

A BMW 335 is a BMW 3 Series variant. The hosts are debating whether it was diesel or not, and that’s important because diesel and gas engines behave differently in the exhaust.

Term

diesel

"It's definitely not a diesel. But I just put it on there because it fucks with everybody. It was like it was a fast 335."

Diesel is a type of engine that runs differently than gasoline. It often sounds and behaves a bit differently, so they’re trying to figure out what kind of engine note they’re hearing.

Term

big wing

"Yeah. It was fast on the streets, but it didn't have the big wing. That was an interesting choice being out there."

A big wing is a spoiler on the back of the car that helps it stay planted at high speed. It’s usually used for better grip on track, but it can also make the car slower in a straight line because it adds drag.

Car

BMW E92

"Yeah. Yeah. That winged E92. Either way, the E92."

The BMW E92 is a specific generation/body style of BMW 3 Series coupe. Here it’s being talked about like a fast, track-prepped car—more about how it looks and goes than about everyday commuting.

Concept

heavy and slidey

"It was heavy and slidey. With no arrow, that thing is not easy to handle."

They’re describing how the car feels in the turns: it doesn’t feel nimble, and it tends to slip instead of gripping the road. That makes it harder to drive consistently lap after lap.

Concept

no arrow

"It was heavy and slidey. With no arrow, that thing is not easy to handle. And it's really hard to keep that thing in contention"

They’re implying the car didn’t have enough aerodynamic “push” to keep it planted. Without that grip, the car slides around more in the corners.

Concept

qualified super well

"I mean, they qualified super well. I don't know what was going on in qualifying."

“Qualified super well” means the car set a strong qualifying result, which determines starting position for the race. Better grid position can reduce traffic risk and make it easier to stay in contention early.

Term

full course yellows

"We got hosed a couple of times in that first race by full course yellows that bunched up the field"

“Full course yellows” means the whole race is under caution. Everyone has to slow down, and the cars get packed together again, which can hurt or help different teams.

Concept

bunched up the field

"We got hosed a couple of times in that first race by full course yellows that bunched up the field"

It means the cars that were spaced out end up closer together. That can make racing more chaotic because you’re dealing with traffic and fewer clear passing lanes.

Term

pace car

"Zach also had a real pants shitting moment where he was the fucking car behind the pace car and the entire field and bunched up behind him."

The pace car is an official car that leads the race cars during a caution. It controls the speed so everyone stays together safely until racing can resume.

Term

rear view camera

"The rear view camera gets very busy. And then a lot of cars just pass."

The rear view camera shows what’s behind the car. During a race restart/caution when cars are close together, it can be hard to track everyone, so the camera view gets very busy.

Concept

yellow flag restart

"How does a yellow flag restart? What? How does the yellow flag restart? ... you’re allowed to drive 80% pace in the full yellow."

A yellow flag restart is the procedure for returning to racing after a caution period. Different series use different rules for when passing is allowed and how drivers accelerate back to racing speed, which is why the hosts are debating how to interpret the “80% pace” instruction.

Term

80% pace

"But then there's like the, you're allowed to drive 80% pace in the full yellow. It's like, well, which car is 80%? Are we judging this on?"

“80% pace” is a rule that tells drivers to go at a reduced speed during the caution—like 80% of the normal pace. The tricky part is figuring out what exact speed you’re supposed to base that percentage on.

Car

AMG GT

"So I just stayed left and I watched, you know, AMG GT go by on the right, three Supras go by on the right."

The AMG GT is a Mercedes performance sports car. In racing, it’s the kind of car that can be very quick and confident when the track gets fast and technical.

Car

Toyota Supra

"So I just stayed left and I watched, you know, AMG GT go by on the right, three Supras go by on the right."

The Toyota Supra is a well-known sports car. Here it’s being mentioned as one of the cars you’d see blasting by during the race.

Concept

turn one

"All the GTO class cars just haul ass and just carry through turn one and they're gone."

“Turn one” is the first corner of a race lap, typically where the field is most bunched up and incidents are most likely. Drivers often plan their positioning here because small mistakes can lead to contact.

Concept

GTO class

"All the GTO class cars just haul ass and just carry through turn one and they're gone."

In racing, cars are grouped into classes so they compete under similar rules. The speaker is saying the GTO class cars are very quick and pull away early in the lap.

Term

Track Limits

"And Track Limits Tommy found a new way through 14, very nice. Unlike Kota, they were, there was no mention of Track Limits."

Track limits are the rules about staying within the marked racing area. If you go outside the boundary—like cutting a corner too much—you can get a warning or have your lap counted as invalid.

Term

balance throttle

"And so you either needed to wait a long time or balance throttle to get around it, or turn it and go back to throttle"

Balancing throttle means modulating the accelerator to manage the car’s grip and rotation through a corner. The goal is to keep the tires loaded enough to turn without spinning or pushing wide, especially when the car’s preferred turning point is “predetermined.”

Concept

cut through a corner

"I realized that my line through turn seven is a big ol' cut compared to what everybody else. You know, there's like the curb, and then that concrete."

A “cut” means you drive a shorter route through a turn instead of staying farther out. It can help you go faster because you cover less distance, but you have to be careful not to run off the ideal path.

Term

racing line

"I thought that was just the way. But no, apparently it's not. Apparently that's a big cut that no one really cared about doing."

The racing line is the best “path” through a corner that helps you keep speed up. Different drivers may pick slightly different lines, and that can affect how fast they go.

Term

curb

"You know, there's like the curb, and then that concrete. My right tires are like to the right of that concrete,"

A curb is the raised edge along the inside of a corner that drivers may use to tighten their line. Hitting curbs can be beneficial for shortening the path, but it can also unsettle the suspension and tires—especially if the curb is harsh or the car bottoms out.

Term

pucker moment

"And so that is a serious pucker moment. That's the scariest throw."

In racing talk, a “pucker moment” means you suddenly feel really nervous because you’re right on the edge of something going wrong. Here, it’s when the car is very close to danger at speed.

Term

pick up the throttle earlier

"I only did it a few times, but to pick up the throttle earlier, carry more speed, knowing that you had that extra margin on the outside."

This means you start pressing the gas sooner while you’re still in the cornering phase. It can make you faster, but if the tires don’t have grip yet, it can also make the car slide.

Term

carry more speed

"But to pick up the throttle earlier, carry more speed, knowing that you had that extra margin on the outside."

“Carry more speed” means you go through the turn faster without having to slow down as much. It’s about keeping the car under control while staying quick.

Term

use the ground up twice as fast

"Now, because it's only half grip, you use the ground up twice as fast. So if you think, I'm only going six inches over,"

It means that when traction is low, you run out of “safe room” faster—either in distance or in tire grip. So you have to be ready to react sooner because the car will start to slide quickly.

Term

risk reward

"Cause again, at this point, there's no one scouting for a pro ride and so the risk reward, just don't crash the car."

“Risk reward” means deciding whether something is worth the danger. Here, the point is that if nobody is helping you by scouting, it’s not worth taking big chances.

Topic

pro driver pairing / younger pro development

"even if you're like a younger pro and a pro pro pairing, you want to get that experience pro driver to show you, hey, this is what you're capable of and this is what this car is capable of."

They’re describing a mentoring-style setup in racing. A newer driver learns by being paired with a more experienced driver who can demonstrate what the car can do.

Term

single-make Carrera Cup

"Also single make Carrera Cup, I think he did a year and a half."

In a single-make race series, everyone drives the same model of car. That helps show who’s the better driver and team, because the cars are much more equal.

Car

Saab 900

"...a video of like a nine year old kid landing three 900s in a row on a skateboard. And it took Tony Hawk 2..."

The Saab 900 is an older model of car made by Saab. In the podcast, it’s mentioned because of a funny video where someone uses the “900” name in a skateboard trick. It’s more of a lighthearted reference than a driving or performance topic.

Car

NISMO Z

"I was at Sonoma yesterday on the NISMO Z launch, the manual and I can't talk about how it drives yet, but honestly you can fucking guess."

NISMO Z is a Nissan Z that’s been tuned by Nissan’s performance team (NISMO). It’s built to feel more “track-ready,” so it’s easier to drive fast and stay stable in corners.

Concept

lead follow

"they were mainly doing lead follow and Nissan was kind enough to not force me into the lead follow, but I did on the warm-up lap, I did do a lead follow and the guy over four, up over the hill and into the carousel"

Lead-follow is when an instructor drives first and you copy what they do. You’re learning where to brake and how to take the turns by following their example.

Concept

arc it in

"[4424.7s] Yeah, I mean, you definitely don't want to arc it in, [4429.1s] you want to be in tight relatively soon."

“Arc it in” means turning in gradually along a curved path. Here, the host is saying that kind of entry line makes it harder to set up the best exit.

Concept

unweight

"you could theoretically carry a little more speed [4436.7s] over that unweight, but you want to be heading [4439.3s] for the inside shortly after that."

“Unweight” is when the car’s weight shifts so a tire has less pressure on the road. Racers use that moment to help the car rotate or stay stable through the turn.

Concept

90 degree corner

"[4456.2s] If that was a 90 degree corner, you would want to do that. [4460.2s] Because it's a 180, no matter what you do on the entry,"

A “90 degree corner” is basically a square-ish turn. The best driving line and timing are different than for corners that are closer to a half-turn.

Concept

180

"[4460.2s] Because it's a 180, no matter what you do on the entry, [4463.2s] it gets canceled out by halfway around the corner."

A “180” is a turn where you’re basically going back the other way. The host is saying that in that kind of corner, what you do at the start matters less than how the car is set up and rotates through the whole turn.

Term

90 degree left hand corner

"breaking into a 90 degree left hand corner, [4541.8s] but it's not nearly as interesting"

That’s a very tight turn—almost like turning a corner in a parking lot. In a race, it usually means you have to brake hard and then accelerate again as soon as you can.

Topic

Road America

"as the one at Road America. [4544.5s] I like the really hard brake zones, you know, [4548.3s] and if you get, so that's something [4550.7s] that Road America has several of, you know,"

Road America is a race track. They’re talking about how its corners and braking areas affect how drivers go fast.

Term

hard brake zones

"I like the really hard brake zones, you know, [4548.3s] and if you get, so that's something [4550.7s] that Road America has several of, you know,"

These are parts of the track where you have to slow down really aggressively for the next turn. Doing it wrong can make the car feel unstable and slow you down.

Term

over slow

"and you're so focused on braking, [4561.7s] and you can over slow in a lot of places. [4564.3s] So there's just so much flow to it."

It means you slowed down too much for the turn. If you do that, you can’t get back on the gas as quickly, so you lose speed.

Concept

floating speed

"For sure, Canada corner. [4575.4s] Like it's just all about floating speed. [4577.5s] And the more you can keep it smooth"

It’s about keeping the car’s speed smooth through the turn. Instead of slowing down a lot and then waiting, you try to stay moving so you can accelerate again quickly.

Topic

Canada corner

"For sure, Canada corner. [4575.4s] Like it's just all about floating speed. [4577.5s] And the more you can keep it smooth"

Canada corner is a specific named turn on the race track. They’re saying it rewards smooth driving and quick acceleration out of the corner.

Concept

lifting and turning

"And then Billy Mitchell Ben becomes an interesting lifting and turning because in the Lambo, you really have to use the brake there. Otherwise you're just going to fly away."

It means easing off the gas while you’re steering through a turn. Drivers do this to keep the car stable and controllable as they set up for the next part of the corner.

Term

transmission

"Queer shift in gears. At the Mid Ohio Lemons Race, my teammate blew our transmission at the start of day two"

The transmission is the part that changes gears and sends power from the engine to the wheels. If it breaks during a race, the car can’t drive normally and the team has to stop.

Term

looser on entry

"but then with the older tires, it would start to get looser on entry."

When they say the car gets “looser on entry,” they mean it feels less planted right as you turn into the corner. That usually happens when the tires aren’t gripping as well at that point.

Term

fourth gear

"And so for Tommy's, it was almost impossible to run in fourth gear, but you were in like kind of the mid stages"

“Fourth gear” is just one of the car’s gear ratios. Drivers pick gears to keep the engine in the right range, and worn tires can make one gear feel wrong for how the car grips.

Term

running in the dark

"A thing like that is whenever you do a 24 hour race, I've always found that you learn certain bits about the track running in the dark."

“Running in the dark” means racing at night. With less visibility, it’s harder to judge distances and braking points, so drivers lean more on feel and track references.

Concept

seat tells you

"The seat tells you, if I clip this, there's a bump here, and I know I'm gonna have six inches on the exit. And then your eyes are like, yep, six inches on the exit."

They’re saying the car’s vibrations and bumps can “tell” you what’s coming. Even if you can’t see perfectly, the seat and chassis feedback helps you drive more consistently.

Concept

wet pass

"It was wet. It was drying out... and then I passed both of them on the outside in the wet."

Passing on a wet track is harder because the tires don’t grip as well. The driver has to be extra careful with braking and steering so the car doesn’t lose control while going for the overtake.

Concept

planned passes

"to put their car there was an incredibly helpful [4939.0s] bit of racecraft that resulted in like multiple planned passes. [4945.1s] That's awesome. [4945.9s] Like when someone like me like sets up planned passes"

“Planned passes” means you don’t just try to pass randomly. You pick the exact spot and timing to make the move work, based on the track and how the other car is driving.

Concept

racecraft

"to put their car there was an incredibly helpful [4939.0s] bit of racecraft that resulted in like multiple planned passes. [4945.1s] That's awesome."

Racecraft is how drivers actually race each other. It includes things like where to drive, when to brake, and how to set up a pass. It’s about outsmarting other cars, not just going fast.

Car

Gordon T50

"for the afternoon, what would it be? T-50. Ooh, T-50?"

The Gordon Murray Automotive T.50 is a high-end supercar. It’s designed to be very fast and fun to drive, with an emphasis on keeping the car light. The podcast mentions it because it’s one of the cars people would pick for an exciting drive.

Concept

throttle, break, throttle, break

"Gierberman says Tato and Tommy is an ever faster to go throttle, break, throttle, break through bus stops or chicanes rather than doing the coast."

They’re describing a pattern of driving where you keep adjusting—speed up a bit, slow down, then speed up again—especially in tight track sections. The idea is to control the car’s balance and timing instead of just letting off and coasting.

Concept

coasting

"On the sim, I feel like the more I master coasting, the faster I get, but it seems counterintuitive. I think what you're dealing with here, this is eye work."

Coasting is when you lift off the gas and just let the car roll. They’re saying that in a simulator it can feel faster, but on track you often need to manage throttle and braking more actively to be quickest.

Concept

eye work

"I think what you're dealing with here, this is eye work. This is, you know, his eyes aren't moving. And so if your eyes aren't moving ahead and looking through it, you're going to want to break"

“Eye work” means you train your eyes to look where you’re trying to drive, not just at what’s right in front of you. They’re saying that better vision and focus can make you brake and steer more smoothly and quickly.

Term

bus stop

"Depending, you could theoretically have a bus stop [5046.6s] that was designed where it was fast enough through the middle [5049.1s] that you would have to dab the brakes for the second part. [5051.2s] But the ones that I know of generally, [5054.3s] you're rolling so much through, [5056.0s] it's basically like one long corner."

On some race tracks, there’s a section people call a “bus stop” because it’s like a tight, slow-ish pinch point. You have to slow down, then get back on the gas quickly so you can carry speed into the next part.

Term

momentum

"But the thing is, it's just trying to keep [5089.9s] that minimum speed up. [5091.0s] Like it's all about carrying the momentum [5092.5s] through those corners and not trying to make any momentum."

Momentum is basically how much “go” the car already has. In racing, you try not to slow down too much in the corners so you can keep that speed and accelerate smoothly out.

Car

Aston Martin Lagonda

"the faster he gets. Matt Farah's million mile Lagonda. If you could try every race car"

The Aston Martin Lagonda is a luxury car made by Aston Martin. The podcast mentions a “million mile” example, meaning someone drove one for an extremely long distance. They bring it up to show that the car can last a long time with proper ownership.

Car

91730

"...nteed safety. I would drive, you know, the Sonoco 91730 maybe. Can't aim cars."

The Porsche 917 is a famous race car from Porsche. The podcast mentions a specific 917 example and talks about safety, which is important in racing. It’s discussed because it’s a major part of racing history.

Concept

Group B cars

"I would try all the Group B cars if I could have an open area to not get any trees and die."

Group B was a rally racing class (especially famous in the early-to-mid 1980s) known for extremely powerful cars and minimal restrictions. It’s worth explaining because Group B is remembered for both spectacular performance and serious safety concerns, which is why the discussion frames it around wanting an open area to avoid trees and “die.”

Car

190 Evo IIs

"Well, the 190 Evo IIs are like slow. They're actually, they're great chassis and stuff, but they're like 225 horsepower."

The Mercedes-Benz 190 Evo II was a special race-focused version of the 190 made for Group B rallying. Even though it’s not described as super powerful, it’s known for being a great-handling car that you have to drive precisely.

Concept

GTP

"So, you know, Group B, GTP, the era I drove. I'm really stoked that I got to drive that era car."

GTP is a type of race category for prototype sports cars, used in endurance racing. It’s basically a “top-level race car” class, not a normal production-car category.

Concept

historic Monaco

"Yeah, I mean, they just had the historic Monaco. And Adrian Fernandez is driving and the Euros, when they have a vintage race, you see the Goodwood, they go hard."

Monaco Historic is a race event at the Circuit de Monaco for older cars. Monaco is a very tight, unforgiving track, so crashes can be especially serious—even with vintage race cars.

Topic

Goodwood

"And Adrian Fernandez is driving and the Euros, when they have a vintage race, you see the Goodwood, they go hard."

Goodwood is a famous UK motorsport venue that hosts lots of historic racing events. The hosts are using it as an example of how intense vintage racing can be.

Part

water-cooled brake calipers

"Clayton Cunningham designed water-cooled brake calipers. Oh, wow. They were a water-cooled and a brake caliper in that car."

Water-cooled brake calipers are brakes with extra cooling built in. Instead of relying only on airflow, they use water to keep the brakes from overheating during repeated hard braking.

Concept

brake caliper cooling circuit

"Was there actually like a water pump and a radiator? Holy shit, that's nuts. Yeah. That seems like more trouble than it's worth,"

A brake cooling circuit is the system that carries cooling fluid through the brake area. It usually means extra parts to move and cool the fluid, which can be more complicated than normal brakes.

Term

Jim Russell series

"Steve Millan and Johnny, I started racing in the Jim Russell series with Johnny O'Connell. We both went on to do stuff."

The Jim Russell series is a racing program where drivers start out and gain experience. The hosts mention it because it helped launch their careers.

Car

Mazda Rx7

"So, but yeah, I mean, and I drove for Clayton Cunningham, [5401.9s] the RX-7 that I drove at the very start of my IMSA career"

The Mazda RX-7 is a race car that’s special because it uses a rotary engine, not the usual piston engine. That rotary design helped it become a popular choice in racing series like IMSA.

Car

Ford Cougar

"..., that's that whole era of car. You had the Roush Cougars, you had the Audi's, the Mustangs, what else?"

The Ford Cougar is a car model that shows up in the podcast as part of an older era of performance cars. The discussion is mainly about what kinds of cars were popular around the same time. It’s mentioned alongside other performance models to set the scene.

Car

Ferrari F40

"There was an F40 that John O'Lacy drove during that era. [5420.8s] The F40 race car was sick."

The Ferrari F40 is one of the most famous Ferraris ever made. In this conversation, they’re saying someone drove an F40 as a race car back in that time period.

Term

transaxle

"So, and then partway through this season, [5439.6s] we developed a car that actually had a transaxle."

A transaxle is basically the transmission and the final drive packaged together. Race teams use it to help the car’s balance and drivetrain layout work better.

Term

hybrid tube frame

"It had a hybrid tube frame, [5444.7s] but it had bonded carbon panels to the tube frame"

A hybrid tube frame is a race-car-style chassis made from metal tubes, but built in combination with other materials or methods. The goal is usually to make the car strong and stiff without adding too much weight.

Term

bonded carbon panels

"but it had bonded carbon panels to the tube frame [5447.6s] to stiffen it up."

Bonded carbon panels are carbon-fiber parts glued onto the car’s structure. Using carbon and adhesive can make the car lighter and stiffer than using traditional metal panels.

Term

carbon rib

"they actually ran a carbon kind of rib [5454.2s] under my legs that tied the bottom together"

A carbon rib is a stiffening piece made from carbon fiber. In this case, it’s placed under the driver to help strengthen the structure where the driver sits.

Term

mid-engine

"I heard that the 911 cup cars are actually mid-engine for better performance, but they wanted to keep the 911 body versus using a Cayman body."

Mid-engine means the engine is placed closer to the middle of the car. That can help the car feel more balanced when you turn.

Car

Porsche 911

"... the ruby, one in the star says, I heard that the 911 cup cars are actually mid-engine for better perfo..."

The Porsche 911 is a famous sports car model from Porsche. The podcast is talking about “Cup” race versions of the 911 and how they’re built for racing. They’re discussing where the engine is placed because that can change how the car handles.

Term

GT4 architecture

"Is it true they actually moved the engine position forward, or they used GT4 architecture for the 911 race cars?"

GT4 architecture means the basic engineering “starting point” used for GT4 race cars. The question here is whether the 911 race car was built using that same kind of race-car design foundation.

Term

GT3 engine position

"The cup cars are the same as the GT3 engine position? I believe so."

In GT3 racing, the engine’s location matters for how the car handles. They’re talking about whether these “cup cars” have the same engine placement as GT3 cars, and how changing the rear axle position can change the balance.

Term

rear-engine

"but it's not actually mid-engine. It's rear-engine. Yes."

“Rear-engine” means the engine is mostly at the back of the car. They’re saying the car isn’t truly mid-engine—it’s still a rear-engine layout.

Car

Porsche 911 GT4

"Although the next, I've been told the next 911 GT4, the GT4 car is a 911 now, the new one. It's not going to be a Cayman. It's going to be a 911 GT4, with a narrower body, then a smaller wing, and stuff like that."

The Porsche 911 GT4 is a race-bred version of the 911 made for track use. Here, they’re saying the next GT4 is going to be based on the 911 platform, not the Cayman, and it’ll have aero and body changes to fit the rules.

Car

Porsche Cayman

"It's not going to be a Cayman. It's going to be a 911 GT4, with a narrower body, then a smaller wing, and stuff like that. Yeah, because they don't have a, they've discontinued the gas Cayman for the time being."

The Porsche Cayman is Porsche’s mid-engine sports car. They’re saying the GT4 program is moving away from the Cayman and toward a 911-based car, and they also mention the gas Cayman being discontinued temporarily.

Concept

spec racing

"You guys have both raced in spec races, and I've not raced in any. So, you've raced in spec Boxster."

Spec racing is when the rules keep race cars similar, so nobody can just outspend everyone to go faster. That usually makes the racing closer and helps control costs.

Car

Porsche Boxster

"So, you've raced in spec Boxster. And spec Miata. And spec Miata."

A “spec Boxster” is a Porsche Boxster that’s modified under strict rules so most cars are similar. That makes racing more about the driver and less about who spent the most money.

Car

Mazda MX-5 / Miata

"So, you've raced in spec Boxster. And spec Miata. And spec Miata."

The Mazda MX-5 Miata is a small two-seat sports car. “Spec Miata” means the cars are raced with limited changes, so the competition is more about setup and driving. The podcast mentions it because it’s a popular format for racing these cars.

Term

seat time

"as an entry-level way to get as much seat time and as many reps for as cost-effectively as possible."

Seat time is how long you get to drive the car on track. More seat time generally helps you learn faster and get better at racing.

Term

cost per mile

"I mean, basically you want even competition and cost per mile in terms of best."

Cost per mile is a simple way to measure how expensive it is to drive on track. You take the total cost and divide by how many miles you drove.

Concept

Legends cars

"Legends, legends cars. You buy a brand new legends car, $25,000. It's some of the most competitive racing there is as long as it's in your region."

Legends cars are race cars built to be very similar to each other, so the driver matters more than the budget. They’re usually raced in regional series, so the level of competition depends on your local scene.

Term

10 tenths

"We drove it at 10 tenths. Oh, wow. It fucking ripped, dude."

“10 tenths” means you’re driving as hard as the car will safely allow—basically at the limit. It’s a way racers say they’re not holding anything back.

Term

sequential gearbox

"motorcycle engine, fan in the gears, sequential gearbox would be a thrill. Road America would be the wrong place."

A sequential gearbox is a transmission where you shift one gear at a time in order. It’s popular in racing because it can make shifting quicker and more repeatable.

Term

one-to-one steering

"It has like go-kart, one-to-one steering. That shit is mad twitchy. Great fun."

“One-to-one steering” means turning the steering wheel translates almost directly into turning the front wheels. The upside is responsiveness, and the downside is it can feel twitchy because it reacts quickly to small inputs.

Term

twitchy

"It has like go-kart, one-to-one steering. That shit is mad twitchy. Great fun."

In driving talk, “twitchy” describes a car that responds too quickly or too sensitively to steering/throttle/brake inputs. It often shows up when steering ratio is quick, tires are grippy, or the chassis is set up to be very responsive.

Company

NASA

"And NASA has a pretty good field with the E30 spec series. ... I mean, NASA's spec E30's there."

Here, “NASA” isn’t space—it’s a U.S. racing organization that puts on car events. They run amateur racing series, including spec-style classes.

Concept

spec series

"And NASA has a pretty good field with the E30 spec series. ... I mean, NASA's spec E30's there."

A “spec series” is a racing class where the rules keep the cars similar. Because fewer parts are allowed to be different, the racing depends more on skill and fine-tuning within the rules.

Topic

Laguna

"Fun way you podiumed last weekend in fucking Laguna and Super Trefeo."

“Laguna” is short for Laguna Seca, a well-known race track in California. They’re saying the guest got a podium there.

Topic

Super Trefeo

"Fun way you podiumed last weekend in fucking Laguna and Super Trefeo."

“Super Trefeo” sounds like the name of a particular race event/series. They’re listing it as another competition where the guest did well.

Term

fast lap

"[5774.5s] What is a fast lap in a Super Trefeo at Laguna? [5778.6s] So the fastest lap I was able to get down to"

A fast lap is the quickest one lap a driver can do. It’s a simple way to compare speed between drivers and cars.

Term

Lap record

"[5792.8s] First time ever there. [5794.0s] Lap record for Super Trefeo. [5795.5s] What?"

A lap record means the best (fastest) lap time ever done in that class on that track. It’s like a “highest score” for one lap.

Term

Tri-Motor Hybrid

"[5803.3s] Do they have fans attached to that car? [5804.8s] Not, no fans, but Tri-Motor Hybrid. [5808.6s] Yeah, unbelievable."

“Tri-Motor Hybrid” means the car uses three electric motors along with a gas engine. The electric motors help the car accelerate strongly and smoothly.

Term

wang

"[5809.2s] 13-ohr horsepower and a lot of wang. [5811.8s] Big wang. [5812.8s] Yeah, we got Minimo-ero."

“Wang” is slang for a big spoiler/wing on a race car. The wing pushes the car down onto the track so it can turn faster.

Term

horsepower

"[5808.6s] Yeah, unbelievable. [5809.2s] 13-ohr horsepower and a lot of wang. [5811.8s] Big wang."

Horsepower is a way to measure how strong the engine is. More horsepower usually helps the car go faster, but it’s not the only factor.

Term

Minimo-ero

"[5811.8s] Big wang. [5812.8s] Yeah, we got Minimo-ero. [5814.3s] Yeah, no that's, I mean, to be running that kind of number"

“Minimo-ero” sounds like a nickname for the car’s aero setup. Since they’re talking right after about a big wing, it probably means how the car is shaped to stick to the track.

Term

slicks

"in a rear-wheel drive Lamborghini, albeit on slicks, is fucking."

Slicks are race tires with no tread. They grip the track really well when the pavement is dry, but they don’t work well in the rain and wear out faster.

Term

GTD

"Which is faster than, what was the GTD? So the GTDs are running 19s. Oh, they are."

GTD is a racing class designation (commonly used in IMSA-style sports car racing) for production-based race cars. The hosts compare lap-time pace within the GTD field, including who was fastest in testing.

Term

19s

"So the GTDs are running 19s. Oh, they are."

“19s” is shorthand for laps that are taking around 19 seconds. It’s basically a quick way to say how fast the cars are.

Car

Golf Gtds

"Which is faster than, what was the GTD? So the GTDs are running 19s. Oh, they are."

The Golf is a compact car model. In the podcast, they’re talking about “GTD” race versions and that they’re using 19-inch wheels. Wheel size can change how the car rides and grips on track.

Term

Corkscrew

"But I passed that guy going into the Corkscrew. Amazing."

The Corkscrew is a well-known corner at Laguna Seca. It’s tricky because the track changes height and direction quickly, so it tests how well the car stays stable and grips the road.

Topic

Super Trofeo

"I was up there as part of the Rooting Contingent for Super Trofeo. And it's a fun, Sergio ran into this big Airbnb."

Super Trofeo is a Lamborghini racing series where teams race similar cars. They were there cheering for that Lamborghini racing event.

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